Time-controlled electric circuit closer



Jan. 4, 1955 w. R. PRESLEY 2,698,885

TIME-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed July 20, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet l I: T L' 2 1 E. E

INVENTOR 6 W w 53L @1486: v3

J T i C; ATTORNEY I Jan. 4, 1955 w. R. PRESLEY 2,698,335

TIME-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed July 20, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fi/aa {9 IN VENTOR Jan. 4, 1955 w. R. PRESLEY 2,698,835

TIME-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed July 20, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet i5 II E G 6 INVENTOR 6 a; 282

a 11 5 \\l .0 BY

62 ATTORNEY Jan. 4, 1955 w. R. PRESLEY 2,698,885

TIME-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed July 20, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR United States Patent TIME-CONTROLLED ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CLOSER Wayman R. Presley, Makanda, Ill.

Application July 20, 1953, Serial No. 369,085

20 Claims. (Cl. 20037) My invention relates broadly to time-controlled electric circuit closers and more particularly to an automatically readily settable time-controlled electric circuit closer having facilities for automatically progressively varying the time of operation thereof and/'or 'automatically lengthening the time intervals over which the circuit closer opcrates.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction of time-controlled electric circuit closer which may be readily set for operation at predetermined times and including means for automatically progressively lengthening the time intervals at which the circuit closer operates.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of time-controlled electric circuit closer having means for conditioning the circuit closer for operation during portions of a day while de-co'nditioning the electric circuit closer for operation during other portions of the day.

Another object of my invention is to provide a timecontrolled electric circuit closer which may be pre-set .for operation at certain times and which automatically lengthens the time period of operation progressively day by day so that the instant of operation of the mechanism operated by the time-controlled electric circuit closer may occur at different periods on different days.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in a construction of time-controlled electric circuit closer including means for operating the circuit closer at variable time intervals as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the time-controlled electric circuit closer according to my invention applied to the front of a clock and illustrating'the variable time-controlled mechanism utilized for advancing the time of operation progressively from day to day; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view illustrating the manner in which the circuit-closing means is advancedprogressively and automatically; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the manner in which the hand, corresponding to the hour hand of a clock, engages and progressively advances the position of one of the timecontrolling means so that on successive days the-time of operation of the circuit controller occurs at different time intervals; Fig. 5 is a view similar to theview shown in Fig. 1 but illustrating the automatic variable time-setting means replaced by selectively settable circuit-controlling means for controlling the operation of the mechanism at predetermined time intervals; Fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the hourhand of the clock advances to a position about to enter one of the selectively settable devices for closing the electrical circuit at a predetermined time; Fig. 7'is a vertical sectional'view taken substantially on line 77 of Fig. 6;Fig. 8 is 'a view illustrating the manner in which the hour hand passes through the selectively settable device of Figs. 6 and'7 for closing the electrical circuit at'a predetermined time; Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional viewtaken substantially on line 99 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is an enlarged view showing the manually manipulatable control means forde-conditioning the operation of'the time-controlmechanism over a predetermined time interval suchas twelve hours of the day; Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing'the same control means moved' to a position for conditioningithe time-control mechanism for operation over .a; predeter- 2,698,885 Patented Jan. 4, 1955 ice mined time period of the day such as a period of twelve hours; Fig. 12 is a plan view of the control means as shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 1414 of Fig. 10; Fig. 15 is a view showing the time-controlled mechanism de-conditioned over a particular number of hours of the day corresponding to the condition illustrated in Fig. 10; Fig. 16 is a view of a modified form of my invention showing the manner of maintaining the position to which the selectively settable circuit controller is adjustable; Fig. 17 is a view similar to that of Fig. 16 with a portion of the selectively settable circuit controller broken away and illustrated in section; Fig. 18 is a view of the selectively settable circuit controller shown in Figs. 16 and 17 partially broken away and illustrated in section; Fig. 19 is a side elevational view partially broken away and partially in section of a further modified form of selectively settable circuit controller embodying my invention; Fig. 20 is a side elevational'view of the modified form of traveling member embodying my invention; Fig. 21 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2l21 of Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through the modified form of traveling member on line 2222 of Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is an elevational view of a modified form of time-controlled electric circuit closer arranged for the dilferential displacement of the circuit-controlling means to different positions in the sweep path of the clock hand and automatically adjustable for movement in either a forward or reversed direction for effecting a circuit-closing operation at difierent times under differing seasonal conditions for control of light circuits, for example, at different times on succeeding days; Fig. 24 is an end view of one of the circuit-controlling means employed in the arrangement of Fig. 23; Fig. 25 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through Fig. 26 which illustrates the circuit-controlling member in longitudinal section; Fig. 26 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the circuit-controlling member of Figs. 23-25; Fig. 27 is an expanded view of the pattern on the surface of the circuit-controlling member shown in Figs. 2326 and showing particularly the arrangement of grooves thereon for actuation of the circuit-controlling member by the clock hand; Fig. 28 is a fragmentary horizontal view of the circuit-controlling means of Figs. 23-26 and illustrating particularly the differential movement of the circuit-controlling means over the screw-threaded track to a position abutting one of the limit stops; and Fig. 29 is a view similar to the view shown in Fig. 28 but illustrating the circuit-controlling means displaced to one of the end limits of movement thereof to a position where the circuit-controlling means may be caused to move in the reverse direction upon the cyclic reentry of the clock hand in the grooves on the surface of the circuitcontrolling means for controlling the time at which the circuit may be opened or closed.

My invention is directed to a time-controlled electric circuit controller having a wide variety of applications where flexibility of program control is desired; that is, wherever an electrical circuit must be closed at certain predetermined times for a definite time interval and also in situations Where it is desired that an electrical circuit be closed at progressively different times on succeeding days or at different times at different seasons of the year in the automatic turning on and off of street lights. Also, the time-controlled circuit controller of my invention has been developed so that it is conditioned for operation throughout a predetermined period of the day and deconditioned throughout the balance of the day.

The mechanism of my invention includes an arm which is substituted for the hour-hand of a clock mechanism and is operative over a calibrated clock face in a path which includes a screw-threaded substantially circular track carrying thereon substantially cylindrical screw-threaded traveling members. Certain of the traveling members are manually settable in position along the screv-thrcaded substantially circular track in relation to the calibrations on the clock face so that an electrical circuit will be closed at a predetermined time as the arm passes through longitudinally extending slots formed in the cylindrical surface of the screw-threaded traveling member. Certain of the other substantially cylindrical screw-threaded traveling members are provided with spirally disposed grooves in the cylindrical surface thereof terminating in inclined entry faces so that as the arm advances into any one of the entry faces of the spirally grooved substantially cylindrical screw-threaded traveling members, the said member will have an angular twist imparted thereto, automatically advancing the traveling member along the screwthreaded circular track while maintaining the circuit closed during the interval that the arm passes through the spiral groove thereby advancing the spirally grooved substantially cylindrical screw-threaded traveling member along the track. A similar operation may occur for other traveling members spatially disposed along the track. This results in a program control where on the succeeding day the repeat path of travel of the arm meets the spirally grooved substantially cylindrical screw-threaded traveling members at positions disposed along the circular track which are advanced with respect to the positions thereof on the previous day as a result of which the electric circuit is controlled at progressively different time intervals on succeeding days.

In order to understand the operation of the control system of my invention, it may be observed that one of the spirally grooved substantially cylindrical screw-threaded traveling members may turn once over a period of six nights which is interpreted into the program system of a progressive change in time of operation of the circuit control two minutes forward for each night. Another of the spirally grooved substantially cylindrical screwthreaded traveling members may have the grooves thereof so pitched that the member will turn once each three nights which interpreted into the program system provides for a four-minute advance in the control of the electrical circuit each night. Still another of the spatially disposed, spirally grooved, substantially cylindrical screw-threaded traveling members may have the spiral grooves therein disposed at such a pitch that the said member revolves once for each two nights which when interpreted into the program system involves a six-minute advance each night in the control of the electrical circuit. The foregoing explanation is based upon operation of the program control during 12 hours, including the night hours, for which provision is made for guiding the path of movement of the arm through the grooves of the substantially cylindri cal screw-threaded traveling members.

This guide means is manually manipulatable for determining the time period over which the control system of my invention is operative so that the system may be de-conditioned during the 12 hours, including the daylight hours, and conditioned for operation during the 12 hours, including the night hours, or vice versa.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, reference character 1 designates the face of a clock having time calibrations thereon represented at 2. Conventional clock driving mechanism is disposed behind the clock face, as indicated by dotted lines 1a, and drives through conventional telescopically disposed shafts represented at 3 and 4, a minute-hand shaft and an hour-hand shaft, respectively. For simplification of the illustration of my invention, both the hour and minute hands have been omitted from the clock, and I have shown simply the arm supported by a sleeve 6 of insulation material which is carried by the shaft 4 which normally carries the hour hand of the clock. The sleeve 6 of insulation material supports the two radially extending leaf springs 7 and 8 constituting the arm 5 which are disposed in spatial relation with respect to each other but which taper away from the sleeve 6 radially outwardly. The leaf springs 7 and 8 are supported in insulated relation to each other in the sleeve 6 of insulation material and electrically connected, respectively, with the slip rings 7a and 8a supported on the sleeve 6 of insulation material. A brush holder 9 of insulation material is mounted on the clock face 1 and carries a pair of brushes 10 and 11 which establish sliding connection with slip rings 7a and 8a, respectively, and which connect through terminals 10a and 11a with the electrical control circuits that I have shown generally at 12.

The electrical control circuits may take a variety of forms depending upon the application of the time-control electric circuit controller of my invention, and for purposes of illustration of my invention, I have indicated the electrical control circuit as embodying a source of potential 14 connected at one end with the track 23 and connected at the other end with the incandescent light 15 and with the annunciator or buzzer 16 leading, respectively,

to the leaf springs 7 and 8. The devices to be controlled are immaterial, and I desire that my invention be considered in the illustrative and not in the limiting sense.

The leaf springs 7 and 8 close the circuits at certain time periods, depending upon the position of arm 5 with respect to any one of a multiplicity of substantially cylindrical screw-threaded traveling members shown at 17, 18 and 19 in Fig. 1 and'at 20, 21 and 22 in Fig. 5. These traveling members are formed from an electrically conductive tube having a flanged end and supporting a body of insulation material. The electrically conductive tube is shown more clearly in Fig. 22, for example, at integrally connected with flange or disc 18b. The internally screw-threaded tube 180 engages externally screw-threaded substantially circular track indicated at 23. The width of flange 18b determines the time period that the electrical circuit is closed. The track 23 is elevated from the face of the clock 1 by standards which I have represented at 24 at one end of the track and at 25 at the other end of A the track. The standards space the track 23 away from the face of the clock 1 in a plane which is substantially parallel to the face of the clock.

The track 23 extends in a circular path surrounding the orbit of the arm 5 and then extends lineally outwardly to positions at which the standards 24 and 25 engage the track and support the track in spaced relation to the clock face providing an unobstructed path for the continued travel of the arm 5. Arranged concentrically with respect to the track 23, I provide a flat substantially circular guide bar 26 which is supported at angularly spaced positions 26a, 26b and 260 by arched brackets which are curved around track 23 and spaced therefrom for the passage of the screw-threaded traveling members 17, 18 and 19 or 20, 21 and 22 and which fasten to the face of the clock 1 and the clock mechanism 1a. The guide bar 26 is sufiiciently rigid as will allow the manually manipulatable member 28, carried in the free end thereof and shown more particularly in Figs. 10-14, to be set in a position for directing the arm 5 in a path which enables the arm to engage the grooves in the traveling members 1722 or permits the arm to be diverted out of the path of the said traveling members 17--22 for enabling the program to be conditioned or de-conditioned. The guide bar 26 is so supported by brackets 26a, 26b and 26c, relative to the path of movement of arm 5, that the arm in its path of travel entirely escapes the supporting brackets 26a, 26b and 26c as it passes either above or below the guide bar 26 as represented by the path defined by the dotted line 29 in Fig. 10 or 30 in Fig. 11.

In Fig. 10 I have shown the manually manipulatable member 28 moved to a position directed angularly downwardly so that as the arm 5 advances in the dotted line path 29 illustrated in Fig. 10 it is forced upwardly out of the path of the traveling members 17-22 as shown more particularly in Fig. 15. This de-conditions the circuit-closing controller for a period of operation of, for example, 12 hours before which time the manipulatable member 28 is moved to the position illustrated in Fig. 11 whereby arm 5 is diverted downwardly in a path under the guide bar 26 and in a path in which the arm 5 will engage the traveling members 17-22. The manipulatable member 28 is pivoted in the slotted end of the guide bar 26 as represented at 28a and is provided with position-determining extensions 28b and 28c and a rear wardly extending portion 28d which operates within recess 26d in the end of guide bar 26 for maintaining the manipulatable member 28 in the position in which it is set. A coil spring 28e is disposed between the rearwardly extending portion 28d and the recess 26d formed in the slotted end of the guide bar 26. Thus the manipulator member 28 may be flexed from side to side and is automatically flexed into the next succeeding position after arm 5 has passed over position-determining extensions 28b or 280, thus confining the circuit controller to operation over approximately 12-hour periods unless manipulator 28 is manually reset. Hence, so long as the manipulatable member 28 is moved to an angularly downward position as shown in Figs. 10 and 13, the arm 5 moves in a path above the guide 26; whereas, when manipulatable member 28 is moved to a position directed upwardly as in Fig. 11, the arm 5 moves in a path below the guide bar 26.

The screw threads in the electrically conductive tubes 17c, 18c and of the traveling members 17, 18 and 19 fit relatively loosely over the screw threads on track 23 so that upon frictional engagement of leaf springs 7 and 8 in arm with the spiraled grooves 17a in traveling member 17; 18a in traveling member 18; and 19a in traveling member 19, the traveling members" 17; 18' and 19 are forced to turn and travel with the arm 5 as it is advanced by the clock mechanism while maintaining the electrical circuits to the devices to be controlled. The traveling members 17, 18 and 19 contain surface grooves 17a, 18a and 19a, respectively, which are of different numbers and which are differently pitched so that there is differential operation with respect to the said traveling members and one traveling member will progress a greater distance, and the traveling members thus travel different distances when engaged. by the angularsweep of arm 5. This results in the advancing of the time of electrical connection of the devices to be controlled day by day as the locations of the traveling members 17, 18 and 19 about the path of arm 5 are dilferent on different days.

Fig. 4 illustrates the manner in which arm 5 imparts rotation to the traveling member 17 as the arm 5 progressively moves about its orbit. I

In Fig. 5 I have shown an arrangement of travel membars 20, 21 and 22 where the travel members do not progress as the arm 5 rotates but where the traveling members have longitudinally extending grooves represented at 20a, 21a and 22a in the surface thereof. These grooves are not disposed on a spiral and allow the leaf springs 7 and 8 of arm 5 to pass therethrough.

Figs. 6 and 7 show the manner in whichthe leaf springs 7 and 8 of arm 5 approach one of the selectively set traveling members such as 21. These members are manually set in a predetermined position with the approach side of slots 21a provided with inclined surface entries 21b to facilitate the entry of the tip of the arm 5 into the slots 21a. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate the manner in which arm 5 passes through the slots 21a prior to the establishment of electrical connection with the edge of flange 21b. Electrical connection is established between leaf springs '7 and 8 and the traveling member 21 as represented in Figs. 8 and 9 so long as arm 5 is passing through the slotted flange 21b. After the arm 5 clears the slotted flange 21b in traveling member 21, the electrical circuit is opened. V

In Figs. 10-15 I have shown more clearly the manner in which the mechanism of my invention is de-conditioned for a 12-hour period as compared 'to the balance of the 12 hours of a 24-hour day. Fig. 15 represents the condition in which arm 5 is guided in a horizontal path over guide bar 26 for avoiding the spiral grooves 17a in traveling member 17 and the spiral grooves of members 18 and 19. In Fig. 15 the de-conditioned operation of the mechanism of my invention has been illustrated by the deflection of arm 5 to a position out of the path of the traveling members 17, 18 and 19' by reason of the setting of the manipulator 28 downwardly in the position illustrated in Fig. 10. The arm 5 has sutficient flexibility to be flexed out of operating position under control of guide bar 26.

In both forms of my invention, that is, the form using the selectively settable traveling members 20 22,- shown in Figs. 5-9, and the automatic progressive control represented in Figs. l4, the traveling members are provided with inclined faces at the entry side thereof enabling the arm 5 to readily enter the associated grooves.

It will be understood that the screw-threaded traveling members shown at 17, 18 and 19 and at 20, 21 and 22 are subject to advancement on the screw-threaded track 23 and may change in position simply under.v conditions of vibration or shock. To eliminate this, lprovide a braking member 31 which is secured to the end' of the circuit controller or traveling member as shown in Figs. 16-22 and extends radially inwardly'and is adapted to frictionally engage the externally screw-threaded track 23. The braking engagement thus provided between-the circuit controller or traveling member represented at 21, for example, and the track 23 enables the circuit controller to be retained in the position-in which his set despite the fact that there may be vibrations or shock which would otherwise tend to force the circuit controller or traveling member to creep along the track 23. As heretofore explained, the length of time that the electrical circuit is closed depends uponthe width of the flange or disc 2111 because the circuit is only closedwhile arm" 5 is passing through the slot in flarige 21b. The

Cit

. 6 flange 21b conforms in all respects to the bodystructure of the traveling member 21 and is grooved, at its periph cry in alignment with the grooves 211: in the surface of the circuit controller or traveling member for coaction with the tip of electrically conductive arm S. .During the time that electrically conductive arm 5 is advancing across the electrically conductive flange 21b, the electrical alarm or control circuit is energized and continues to be energized during the time that the tip of the arm 5 is traversing the groove or slot in the edge of the flange 21b, but the electrical circuit is open while arm 5 is traversing the groove 21a in the body structure of memb'er21. The time of operation of the electrical circuitmay be varied by changing the elfective width of the electrically conducting flange 21b as shown more particularly at 211) in Fig. 19. in this arrangement the insulated portion of the electric circuit controller is represented at 21 while the electrically conductive flange portion is rpre: sented at 21b. The arm 5 in passing through the grooves or slots in the cylindrical surface of the. device remains on the electrically conductive material 21b for a time period equal to one-half the total time that the arm is passing the electric circuit controller so that the alarm or control circuit is thus closed for a longer time period than is the case when using the structure illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18. p M

These same principles may be applied to the traveling member illustrated in Figs. 20, 21 and 22 represented at 18 formed from insulation material with curved grooves 18a on the cylindrical surface thereof. The body of insulation material 18 fits over the electrically conductive tube 180 which has applied to one end thereof the flange 18b of electrically conductive material. Both the flange and the body of insulation material are of corn parable dimensions and move on track 23 under control of arm 5. However, during the passage, of the arm through the body of insulation material represented at 18, the alarm circuit is inert and becomes effective only when arm 5 strikes electrically conductive disc 1812 which plished in the arrangement of my completes the alarm circuit through the screw-threaded conductive track 23. By varying the width of the electrically conductive portion of the circuit controller or traveling member shown at 21b or 18b, respectively,

, in Figs. 18 and 22, the time period of operation of the alarm circuit may be controlled. Figs. 2329 illustrate another modified form of my invention by which, an electrical circuit may be controlled at a different time on successive days. One example of theapplicatio'n of such a circuit controller is the turning on and off of times each day to correspond with the setting or rising of the sun. For example, in the latitude in which Malzanda, Illinois, is located the earliest and latest rising and setting of the sun occurs between the hours of 2 lights, such as street lights, in a community, at different 4:60 A. M. and 8:00P. M. The circuit controller of my invention is readily set to operate within these limits of time or, by simple readjustment, may be arranged to operate over different periods as, for example, in latitudes where the days may be longer. This result is accominvention by the use of an electrically conductive track shown at variable pitch screw-threads indicated in zones 32a, 32b and 320, that is, closely spaced threads in zones 32:: and 32c and widely spaced threads in zone 32b. The traveling member 33 is cylindrical in form and has a longitudinal bore 33a extending axially therethrough to enable the traveling member to move over the track 32. The traveling member 33 carries a conductive disc 33b on one end thereof forming the electrically conductive memher by which electrical contact is established through the tip of arm 8. The disc 33b also carries electrically conductive members 34 on the surface thereof extending radially inward to engage the variable pitch screw-threads on track 32. Similar electrically conductivemembers 35' are arranged on the other end of the traveling member 33 andengage the variable pitch screw-threads of track 32 thereby enabling the traveling member 33 to very readily move in a forward or reverse direction with respect to track 32 irrespective of the curvature thereof and in a manner which may be accommodated to the variable pitch screw-threads on track 32. That is to,

say, the flexibility of electrically conductive members 34 and 35 is such that these members may yield forwardly or backwardly in' engagement with the screw-threads ,of

. the track 32 independently of the differing pitch offthe screw-threads.

32 having The surface of the traveling member 33 is provided with a multiplicity of angularly disposed grooves which I have indicated in an extended pattern arrangement in Fig. 27 at 33c and 33d, the grooves extending in opposite directions and intersecting each other in at least two positions. Grooves 33c are those which control the forward movement of traveling member 33 While grooves 33d are those which control the reverse movement of the traveling member 33.

In Figs. 23, 28 and 29, I have shown two adjustable stops at 36 and 37 which may be set in predetermined positions according to the time period over which the circuit controller is required to operate. Each of the adjustable stops 36 and 37 have longitudinally extending projections 36a and 37a thereon which coact with similar projections 33c and 33] on the traveling member 33. The sets of grooves 330 and 33d are so arranged on the surface of the traveling member that as the arm 8 leaves the traveling member at the right-hand end thereof at least one of the grooves 33c or 330. will remain in a position aligned with the entry of the arm 8 on its return cycle. in Fig. 28, for example, I have shown groove 33c terminating at its entry end in alignment with arm 8. Arm 8 in its cyclic progression thus engages groove 33c and advances traveling member 33 clockwise along track 32 until an abutment is reached adjacent stop 37 between members 37a and 33 Traveling member 33 can thus progress no further toward the right. However, in this position, as indicated in Fig. 29, reverse groove 3301 is so positioned that arm 8, in its successive cyclic operation, may enter this groove and revolve traveling member 33 counterclockwise moving the traveling member toward the left and in the direction of limit stop 36. A similar operation occurs at limit stop 36.

Throughout the path of movement of traveling member 33 the speed of traveling member 33 is greater in the zone of Widely pitched threads 3212 than it is in the zones 32a and 32c which are more finely pitched. This movement related to the time calibrations on the clock face enables the circuit through disc 33b and arm 8 to be closed at the desired instant.

The arrangement or arm 3 and guide bar 26 and the associated parts in Figs. 23-29 are similar to like parts in Figs. 1-22 and have been indicated by similar reference characters.

I have found the control system of my invention highly practical for the control of various types of program circuits, and while .i have described my invention in certain of its preferred embodiments, I realize that modifications may be made, and I desire that it be understood that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A time-controlled electric circuit controller com prising in combination with a clock mechanism, a calibrated clock face and an hour shaft driven by said mechanism, a radially extending resilient arm carried by said hour shaft and operative in an orbit over said calibrated clock face, a guide bar surrounding said shaft and operative to guide said resilient arm either above or below the plane of said guide bar, a screw-threaded substantially circular track extending in a path around said guide bar and carrying substantially cylindrical internally screwthreaded traveling members thereon in a path extending through the orbit of movement of said resilient arm, said traveling members having grooves on the cylindrical surfaces thereof for the passage of the tip of said arm therethrough for the establishment of an electrical circuit between said arm and said members while the arm is passing through the grooves in said members.

2. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said screw-threaded traveling members are spirally grooved and are displaced in position along said screw-threaded substantially circular track as said arm is advanced by the clock mechanism.

3. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said screw-threaded traveling members are provided with grooves on the surfaces thereof where said grooves have inclined entry faces enabling said arm to center itself in any selected groove and along the said groove while maintaining an electrical circuit between said arm and the said traveling members.

4. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said screw-threaded members are provided with spiral grooves on the surfaces thereof and in which the spiral grooves at the end at which said arm advances toward said members are provided with inclined faces which are contacted by said arm for insuring the entry of the tip of said arm into a selected groove for passage therethrough while maintaining an electrical circuit between said arm and said traveling members.

5. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which the grooves in the cylindrical surfaces of said traveling members are spirally arranged with the pitch and number of said grooves varying with respect to each of the traveling members whereby said traveling members advance on said track at different rates of movement.

6. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, which includes means on the leading end of said guide bar for directing said arm selectively above or below said guide bar for selectively moving said arm in an orbital path through the grooves of said traveling members or displaced out of the path of said traveling members.

7. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said traveling members are provided with spaced longitudinally extending peripheral grooves in the surfaces thereof, said grooves being frictionally engageable by the tip of said arm in accordance with the path of angular movement thereof for establishing an electrical circuit between said arm and said traveling members during the time period that said arm is advancing through the grooves in the traveling members.

8. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said arm comprises a multiplicity of resilient leaf springs operative to establish an electrical circuit through said traveling members while said arm is advancing therethrough and means carried by said hour shaft for conducting electric currents through said leaf springs and through said traveling members as said hour shaft advances.

9. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said guide bar and said screwthreaded substantially circular track are uniformly spaced from each other and terminate in spaced lineally extending portions, the said portions being supported in spatial relation to the clock face.

10. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, .in which said guide bar and said screwthreaded circular track are concentric, said track being spaced from said guide bar for a distance sufficient to enable said arm to disengage said traveling members when said arm moves in an orbit displaced by said guide bar.

11. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said traveling members are provided with brake members which frictionally engage the screw threads of said screw-threaded substantially circular track for retarding the movement of said members except under positive control of said resilient arm moving in the path thereof.

12. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said guide bar includes a manually manipulatable member for engaging said arm and directing the arm in a path adjacent either side of said guide bar for insuring the engagement with or the disengagement between the tip of said arm and said traveling members.

13. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said traveling members are formed from electrical insulation material and carry at one end thereof a disc of electrically conducting material with grooves therein aligned with the grooves on the cylindrical surface of the associated traveling member whereby the time period of establishment of the electrical circuit through said arm is determined by the time period necessary for the tip of the arm to pass in electrical wiping connection with said electrically conductive disc.

14. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said guide bar is supported with respect to said clock face in a position out of the path of movement of said arm.

15. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said traveling members are each formed by an internally screw-threaded sleeve having a flange on one end thereof, a cylindrical body structure of insulation material carried by said internally screw-threaded sleeve, the grooves in said cylindrical surface extending peripherally thereof, said flange terminating in peripheral alignment with the cylindrical surface of said body of insulation material, and the peripheral grooves in said cylindrical surface extending through the said flange.

16. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said guide bar is supported at a plurality of positions by bracket members which are attached thereto and which are curved in directions for avoiding obstruction to the passage of said screw-threaded traveling members and which are fastened with respect to said clock face for maintaining said guide bar in position.

17. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said guide bar is provided at one end with an angularly rockable member, sai angularly rockable member having a pair of oppositely extending, transversely directed projections which are selectively engageable by said arm subsequent to the entry of said arm in a path on either side of the plane of said guide bar for automatically flexing said member to a position for directing said arm into an opposite path of movement upon the succeeding orbit of movement of said arm.

18. A time-controlled electric circuit controller, as set forth in claim 1, in which said guide bar terminates in a slot in one end thereof, an angularly movable member pivoted in said slot, spring means extending between one of the ends of said member and a position on said guide bar whereby said member may be flexed and maintained in either of two selected positions with respect to said guide bar and a pair of oppositely directed horns on said member adjacent the pivot thereof, said horns being engageable by said arm in the course of orbital movement thereof for angularly flexing said member to either of the two limiting positions thereof.

19. A time-controlled electric circuit controller comprising in combination with a clock mechanism, a calibrated clock face and an hour shaft driven by said mechanism, a radially extending resilient arm carried by said hour shaft and operative in an orbit over said calibrated clock face, a variable pitch screw-threaded substantially circular electrically conductive track extending in a path around the path of movement of said arm, the variable pitch screw-threads on said track varying in pitch from one portion thereof to another, a substantially cylindrical forward and reverse movement traveling member having electrically conductive means engaging the variable pitch screw-threads on said shaft, an electrically conductive disc carried by one end of said member and a plurality of multiple intersecting grooves formed on the surface of said member according to a pre-arranged pattern for entry of the tip of said arm in a selected groove thereof and the rotation of said member in either a forward or reverse direction between limits established at opposite ends of said track to a position determinative of the time of operation of a circuit extending between said arm through said disc and through said track.

20. A time-controlled electric circuit controller as set forth in claim 19 in which the grooves on the surface of said traveling member are proportioned and angularly related for centering a groove in alignment with the path of movement of the tip of said arm for entry of said arm on a successive recurring cyclic movement thereof each time said traveling member is released in a position of rest as the arm moves beyond the trailing edge thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 2,420,019 Shrack May 6, 1947 

